Memoirs of Fanny Hill: A New and Genuine Edition from the Original Text (London, 1749)Cleland, John
General
Memoirs of Fanny Hill: A New and Genuine Edition from the Original Text (London, 1749)
Cleland, John
England -- Fiction; Erotic fiction; Prostitutes -- Fiction
Though he was some time awake before me, yet he did not offer to
disturb a repose he had given me so much occasion for; but on my first
stirring, which was not till past ten o’clock, I was obliged to endure
one more trial of his manhood.
About eleven, in came Mrs. Jones, with two basins of the richest soup,
which her experience in these matters had moved her to prepare. I pass
over the fulsome compliments, the cant of the decent procuress, with
which she saluted us both; but though my blood rose at the sight of
her, I supprest my emotions, and gave all my concerne to reflections on
what would be the consequence of this new engagement.
But Mr. H..., who penetrated my uneasiness, did not suffer me to
languish under it, and acquainted me, that having taken a solid sincere
affection to me, he would begin by giving me one leading mark of it, in
removing me out of a house which must, for many reasons, be irksome and
disagreeable to me, into convenient lodgings, where he would take all
imaginable care of me; and desiring not to have any explanations with
my landlady, or be impatient till he returned, he dressed and went out,
having left me a purse with two and twenty guineas in it, being all he
had about him, as he express it, to keep my pocket still further
supplied.
As soon as he was gone, I felt the usual consequence of the first
launch into vice (for my love attachment to Charles never appeared to
me in that light). I was instantly borne away down the stream without
making back to the shore. My dreadful necessities, my gratitude, and
above all, to say the plain truth, the dissipation and diversion I
began to find in this new acquaintance, from the black corroding
thoughts my heart had been a prey to, ever since the absence of my dear
Charles, concurred to stun all my contrary reflections. If I now
thought of my first, my only charmer, it was still with the tenderness
and regret of the fondest love, embittered with the consciousness that
I was no longer worthy of him. I could have begged my bread with him
all over the world, but wretch that I was! I had neither the virtue or
courage requisite not to outlive my separation from him.
Yet, had not my heart been thus preengaged, Mr. H... might probably
have been the sole master of it; but the place was full, and the force
of conjectures alone had made him the possessor of my person; the
charms of which had, by the bye, been his sole object and passion, and
were, of course, no foundation for a love either very delicate or very
durable.
He did not return till six in the evening, to take me away to my new
lodgings; and my moveables being soon packed, and conveyed into a
hackney coach, it cost me but little regret to take my leave of a
landlady whom I thought I had so much reason not to be over pleased
with; and as for her part, she made no other difference to my staying
or going, but what that of the profit created.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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